{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.hoeven.senate.gov/news/news-releases/hoeven-introduces-legislation-to-improve-security-at-va-facilities-help-ensure-safety-of-patients-and-staff", "Hoeven Introduces Legislation to Improve Security at VA Facilities, Help Ensure Safety of Patients & Staff", "2023-12-15", "2023", "2023-12", "Republican", "Senate", "ND", "John Hoeven", "H001061", "www.hoeven.senate.gov", "hoeven", "https://www.hoeven.senate.gov/news/news-releases", "scraper", "Hoeven Introduces Legislation to Improve Security at VA Facilities, Help Ensure Safety of Patients & Staff\n\nWASHINGTON \u2013 Senator John Hoeven this week introduced the VA Medical Center Security Report Act, legislation led by Senators Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) to address security challenges at U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) facilities. Specifically, the bill would direct the VA to study and report to Congress on the following issues impacting VA Medical Centers and other sites under the jurisdiction of VA Police:\n\nThe type and frequency of criminal activity experienced at VA facilities;\n\nThe number of vacant positions for VA police officers; and\n\nThe availability and adequacy of equipment, resources and training for VA police officers, among other priorities.\n\n\u201cOur veterans, their families and the staff that serve them deserve to have a safe environment at VA facilities,\u201d said Senator Hoeven. \u201cOur bill is about identifying security risks, particularly at facilities that have seen an increase in incidents, and helping ensure law enforcement have the tools they need to keep our VA medical centers, clinics and other facilities secure.\u201d\n\n\u201cI have heard from VA providers in Kansas about the security challenges they are facing that could jeopardize the safety and security of veterans seeking care at VA facilities and VA\u2019s health care workforce,\u201d said Senator Moran. \u201cThis legislation will help VA law enforcement investigate and report on those challenges so that they can be addressed to make certain veterans and VA staff have a safe environment to work in and receive the health care they have earned.\u201d\n\n\u201cOur veterans and dedicated VA staff deserve safe conditions when they seek care and work at VA Medical Centers,\u201d said Senator Blumenthal. \u201cThis bipartisan, bicameral measure ensures the VA has the resources to review security challenges and address them to safeguard these essential facilities.\u201d\n\nIn addition to Hoeven, Moran and Blumenthal, the legislation was cosponsored by Senators Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), John Thune (R-S.D.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), and J.D. Vance (R-Ohio). The full text of the legislation can be found here.\n\n-###-", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:56:20Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://www.hoeven.senate.gov/news/news-releases/hoeven-introduces-legislation-to-improve-security-at-va-facilities-help-ensure-safety-of-patients-and-staff"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.6318901907652617, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}